AT least 89 civilians were killed in attacks by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the besieged city of El Fasher and Abu Shouk displacement camp over a 10-day period ending August 20, the UN Human Rights Office announced Friday.
The latest documented attacks between August 16-20 killed at least 32 civilians, while 57 others died in earlier strikes on August 11, UN spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva.
“We fear the actual number of civilians killed is likely higher,” Laurence said during the biweekly press briefing.
The UN office documented what it called particularly disturbing patterns of violence, including 16 apparent summary executions among the most recent killings. Most victims at Abu Shouk camp belonged to the African Zaghawa tribe, according to UN information.
In one documented case in the El Fasher area, a victim was asked about his tribal affiliation before being killed after identifying himself as belonging to the African Berti tribe.
“This pattern of attacks on civilians and willful killings, which are serious violations of international humanitarian law, deepens our concerns about ethnically motivated violence,” Laurence said.
The UN also received reports that at least 40 internally displaced men were abducted during the August 16 attacks. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
The violence comes as El Fasher faces a humanitarian crisis after more than a year under siege, with growing famine risks across North Darfur, Laurence said.
Humanitarian operations have also come under fire. On August 20, aerial strikes hit a 16-truck UN food convoy in Mellit, North Darfur. A similar attack targeted UN humanitarian workers in Al Koma on June 2.
“Humanitarian assistance and workers are protected explicitly under international humanitarian law and must not be targeted,” Laurence emphasised.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called on all conflict parties to immediately protect civilians, ensure safe passage for those fleeing violence, and facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access.
The attacks represent an escalation in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which has displaced millions and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
